Is F1 Las Vegas Living Up To The Hype?

It's finally time to start revving those engines for the first Las Vegas Grand Prix since the early 1980s. With months of preparations to build grandstands and bridges over streets, repave roads, put up barriers and everything else that went into planning for the race, is F1 in Vegas living up to the hype?

Many reports over the past few weeks suggest that maybe F1 was slightly overhyped. Room prices and ticket prices to the festivities have plummeted over the past few weeks and it leaves everyone wondering if this will all be worth it in the end.

The city of Las Vegas has been through a lot of changes this year to prepare for the four-day race event. According to USA Today, F1 spent the most money on this race than any other they've held this year - $500 million. Hotels initially put high prices on the rooms during the event and ticket prices were originally hovering around $7,000. The problem they've been facing, demand.

Renee Wilm, CEO of the Grand Prix announced, "we will be sold out," on Nov. 3 but that's simply not the case. Ticket prices have been plummeting, as well as hotel prices, and it's still not living up to the hype.

Ticket prices have been cut by nearly 60 percent, according to KTNV Las Vegas. Hotel prices during the event have also dropped significantly. The Grand Prix initially charged high fees to businesses and hotels that have a view of the race, and threatened to build statues in the sightlines if they didn't pay up. Those fees also decreased as the race approached.

While the hype was big when F1 first announced they would be in Las Vegas, some might remember the last time the race was held in the city. In 1981 and 1982, Caesars Palace hosted its own Grand Prix and it didn't go well.

"Caesars Palace was holding these boxing matches in their pavilion behind their hotel. There weren't a lot of seats, but the seats were very expensive, and they were packed," Chris Pook, the founder of the Long Beach Grand Prix said, according to The Athletic. "Everybody that wanted to come and gamble on the fight came, so they would sell out in literally hours. So Caesars was fairly confident if they did something like this for an F1 race that they would be able to get all their high rollers invited to come and participate and enjoy the event."

The race wasn't held on a permanent track or properly build street circuit. Organizers opted to create a course in a parking lot adjacent to Caesars Palace hotel and casino. That's why it was called the Caesars Palace Grand Prix and not the Las Vegas Grand Prix. F1 only lasted two years in Vegas, 1981 and 1982.

While this race is different, the build-up for it has taken over the past two years. President and CEO of F1's parent company Liberty Greg Maffei claimed that the Las Vegas Grand Prix will earn back its large investment, but many are skeptical at this point.

Popular TikTok creator, VegasStarfish, who shares content revolving around the city, has shared some information about F1 from preparations through the start of the event.

"Ready or not, the Las Vegas Strip has been turned into a Formula One racetrack. The city is ready to go and here is everything you need to know, the good and the bad," she began her latest video about the upcoming race.

She continued by sharing that one side of the iconic Las Vegas Strip has been transformed into a racetrack, there will be significant airport delays for anyone flying in or out of Vegas this week, and the schedule of events. She also shared the race circuit roads as well as other roads that will be closed during event times, which are all late in the day and overnight.

"The city is full of celebrities, billionaires, millionaires, and tourists, so expect to walk or wait an hour or more for ride share," she continued. "There are a lot of cool pop-up activations that you can watch. Last night the first ever live sporting event for Netflix was hosted at the Wynn, and all of the properties have F1 branding and activations."

She explained that anyone without a ticket to view the race, will not be able to see any of it. Black netting went up blocking all pedestrian views, and there are no longer any places a pedestrian can go to see the race.

"And whether you're a race fan or not, this is part of Vegas history," she concluded her video. "It's been disruptive, chaotic, and overwhelming, but now the city will do what it does best and throw the biggest party in the world."

VegasStarfish dropped into the comment section to add, "I have not loved this process, but I love how exciting Vegas feels today. People are into this and it’s showing."

One viewer brought up something that angered many during this process - the removal of all the trees on the Strip.

"Nah still mad about the trees, 💔" they wrote. Another person added, "I can guarantee you they’ll be back after the race," and one other said, "Nope. This race is permanent part of the schedule. This is a new era for Vegas."

Since Vegas has signed on to have F1 in the city for the next 10 years, many wonder if the Strip will return to its usual appearance after the race or if some things will not return to normal.

"I’m just curious to see what the aftermath is like. How many structures stay up/come down," one person wrote. Another added, "I’m disappointed that they’re doing it every year. So chaotic."